Week in Review: The top stories in phones, computing, streaming and more

Apple AI plans, Google I/O lineup, and we're celebrating Sustainability Week Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( April 26, 2024 CONNECT WITH TECH RADAR  [Facebook]( [X]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Tech Radar]( [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE]( [] Welcome to the Week in Review [] Welcome Between now and June we’re going to see a raft of AI announcements from Microsoft (Build), Google (I/O), and Apple; but to my mind, Apple’s is the one that might have the biggest impact. It won’t necessarily be because Apple’s approach is better than everyone else’s (though it may be), but because when Apple fully enters an arena, it tends to fill the space. The plans we’re hearing about now indicate a new way of approaching all-on-board AI that could be both more open and more private (if that’s possible). Weirdly, Apple has sort of confirmed the first part by putting some open-source AI work out for others to assess. I’m excited for the prospect, but Apple AI won’t mean much if Siri isn’t far better than Gemini and Copilot, and if it doesn’t arrive on that rumored and potentially exciting ‘Apple soundbar’. If there’s one thing I can guarantee about the next six months, it’s that we'll see a lot of new products from virtually every major technology player, which means that we retire our old gadgets, and then… well, what? We’ve dedicated our first Sustainability Week to examining this problem from numerous perspectives. In general, we saw exciting progress in projects and products big and small, but we also realized that there’s still so much work to do. I do think, though, that if everyone bought just one bioengineered, toxin-sucking plant, or one refurbished product a year (like the nifty 35-year-old Game Boy I’ve been using), it would make a big difference. Speaking of AI and stuff that’s open, Meta’s recent decision to open up its Meta OS platform surprised most of us, and it may change the playing field for VR and mixed-reality headsets. It might even be a shot across the bow of what could be a struggling Apple Vision Pro (I’ve not touched mine for a week). But, hey – it’s Friday, and when I want a break from thinking about sustainability, VR, AI, and open source, I just rewatch the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer to see if I can spot as many Easter eggs as our Senior Entertainment Reporter Tom Power found. Let's get to it… Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-Large [] The week in Apple [] [Here's another hint that iOS 18 will be loaded with AI]( We might see much more AI on the iPhone this year (Apple) [Here's another hint that iOS 18 will be loaded with AI]( Apple hasn't said anything officially about iOS 18 yet, but it has launched a new set of AI models designed to run locally on devices rather than in the cloud – which makes us think that the iPhone could be getting a whole lot of new AI tricks later this year. [Read the full story]( [] - [Apple sets a launch date for the next iPads]( [] - [A more ethical take on AI could be on the way from Apple]( [] - [The next HomePod might be more like a soundbar]( [] The week in phones [] [Here's what's getting announced at Google I/O 2024]( We might see new hardware at Google I/O 2024 (Google) [Here's what's getting announced at Google I/O 2024]( Google has published the 2024 schedule for its annual Google I/O developer event, and it gives us some clues as to what we can expect to hear about from May 14: get ready for Android 15 news, the reveal of Wear OS 5, and lots of new AI wizardry. [Read the full story]( [] - [We might see foldables and more Samsung gadgets on July 10]( [] - [Samsung's next Galaxy AI trick is set to revolutionize mobile video]( [] - [Android's next bright idea is adverts on your lock screen]( [] TechRadar's Sustainability Week [] [We're celebrating sustainability in tech]( A Game Boy, good as new (Future) [We're celebrating sustainability in tech]( In honor of our precious planet, we've been running a week of articles celebrating and examining sustainability in the tech industry – including this nostalgia-triggering story about how classic Game Boys are being refurbished for a new generation. [Read the full story]( [] - [eBay's quest to prevent e-waste and save you money]( [] - [This bioengineered plant-bacteria combo is better than an air purifier]( [] - [7 smart-home tips to help you save energy and reduce waste]( [] This week's top deals picked by TechRadar's experts [] - [The MacBook Air M3 is out top-rated laptop, and it's now just $989]( [] - [These are the top tech deals in Best Buy's huge 3-day sale]( [] - [The super-fast Crucial T705 gaming SSD has dropped to under $155]( [] The week in virtual reality [] [Meta's latest VR announcement is a huge one]( The Meta Quest 3 (Meta) [Meta's latest VR announcement is a huge one]( Virtual reality will never be the same again: Meta has announced that it's sharing its Horizon OS software with other manufacturers, so it'll turn up on devices other than the Quest headsets, much in the same way that Android and Windows operate. [Read the full story]( [] - [The Meta Quest alternatives we could get soon, according to Zuckerberg]( [] - [Report claims Apple Vision Pro sales have 'fallen sharply']( [] - [Ray Ban's Meta Glasses now let you listen to Apple Music]( [] The week in entertainment [] [The best new movies and shows to stream this weekend]( Knuckles has landed on Paramount Plus (Paramount Plus) [The best new movies and shows to stream this weekend]( Wondering what to stream this weekend? The latest on-demand arrivals include Knuckles on Paramount Plus, while new supernatural series Dead Boy Detectives and Oscar-winning movie The Zone of Interest stream on Netflix and Prime Video, respectively. [Read the full story]( [] - [3 great video game-based shows to watch instead of Knuckles]( [] - [X-Men 97 episode 7 just introduced a major Marvel villain]( [] - [6 Easter eggs from the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer]( [] More of this week's top stories [] - [New Google smart home devices could be in the works]( [] - [Qualcomm says its Snapdragon X Plus is an M3 beater, but is it really?]( [] - [Apple could be playing it smart by waiting for its M4 chips]( [] - [The DJI Mini 4K release date has now been confirmed]( [] - [Listening to Taylor Swift on a 22-year-old Sony Walkman was torture]( Sharing TechRadar with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. 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